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R. B. OLDS TROMBONE Filed Deo.

Nov. 1,2, 1935.

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TROMBONE Reginald B. Olds, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 13, 1933, Serial No. 702,220 2 claims. (01184-395) My invention relates to improvements in musical instruments and particularly to wind instruments. It concerns that class of wind instruments which employ a sliding tube which on having its position varied'increases or decreases the length of the vibrating column of air formed by the instrument. The invention particularly relates to slide trombones and instruments of like character.

Heretofore, some early German instruments have been made in which there were two stationary tubes over which an outer reverse bend tube telescoped. In these instruments the outside diameter of the stationary tubes was uniform and the inside diameter of the ends or telescoping portions of the outer reverse bend tube was, likewise, made uniform. Where both the inner tubes and outer tubes had uniform outside and inside diameters, respectively, there was a uniform t throughout the length of these tubesl Consequently, when the outer tube was completely telescoped over the inner tubes there was a greater friction with the outer tube retracted than when extended. To overcome the disadvantages of variations of friction it has been conventional practice for some time to form the ends of the inner tube with a stocking. This stocking is in the form of a thickened portion on each end of each of the inner tubes. 'I'his thickened portion was apparent as an increase in exterior diameter for a short distance back from the end of each inner tube. With such a construction the stocking formed the only bearing or close fitting surface on each inner tube which would fit closely to the interior of the outer reverse bend tube. The stocking was intended to render the friction uniform regardless of whether the outer tube were retracted or extended. However, such a construction does not completely overcome the detriment of non-uniform friction. I nd that even with the stocking present there is greater' friction when the outer tube is completely telescoped or retracted than when the outer tube is extended. This may be due to the fact that although there is a greater clearance between the outer tube and the inner tube at points remote from the stocking oil and condensed moisture between these adjacent surfaces may increase the friction. Also, the handle by which the outer tube is manipulated being conventionally located near the ends of the outer tube may cause the player to impose the weight of his hand on the handle sufficiently so as to cause the outer tube to tend to bind onV the stocking when the outer tube is fully retracted, it being understood that there is considerable leverage between the stocking and the handle when the outer tube is in this position.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved slide trombone construction 5 wherein the friction will be uniform regardless of whether the outer tube is fully retracted, fully extended, or in any intermediate position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slide trombone wherein the bearing surfaces or 10 places of closest fit between the outer tube and the inner tubes are located near the handle on the outer tube, thus avoiding any tendency toward binding.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, l5 which will be made manifest in the following detailed description, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawing for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein: 20

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a slide trombone embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the slide, illustrating a preferred form of construction.

Fig. 3 is a section through a slide, illustrating 25 a modified form of construction.

Fig. 4 is a view in section illustrating an alternative form of construction, the details being shown as highly exaggerated so as tobring out clearly the nature of the construction. 30

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the general constructionof the slide trombone follows conventional practice wherein there is a bell I0 connected by 35 a return bend II to a lower stationary tube I2. Brackets or braces I3 connect the bell and the stationary tube I2. An extension I4 has one end tapered as at I5 to provide for attachment to the end of stationary tube I2. This extension 40 constitutes the lower inside stationary tube of the slide. Above the lower stationary inner tube I4 there is disposed an upper stationary inner tub'e I6 which is parallel and which is secured to the lower stationary tube I4 by means of a bracket 45 II. The lower stationary inner tube has a lower outside movable tube I8 telescoped thereover and in a similar manner the upper inner tube I6 has an upper outside tubev I9 telescoped thereover. The outside movable tubes I8 and I9 are con- 50 nected to each other by a return bend 20. `Sleeves 2I may be mounted around the inner ends of the stationary tubes I4 and I6 which receive the inner ends of the outer tubes IB and I9 when the outer tubes are in fully retracted positions. 55

The upper sleeve 2| may provide an extension 22 providing for the attachment of the mouth piece 23. The use of sleeves 2| or their equivalent is optional. Adjacent the inner ends of the outer tubes I8 and I9 these two tubes are connected to each other by means of a handle or hand grip 24, enabling the outer tubes to be manipulated so as to vary their position and thus lengthen or decrease the column of air formed by the instrument which is to be vibrated by the lips of the player. The invention concerns the particular 'formation of the fitting surfaces between the outer tubes I8 and I9 and their respective inner tubes I4 and I6. As will be noted from Fig. 2, the drawing illustrates the clearances between outer tube I9 and innertube I6 and a similar clearance between outer tube I8 and its inner tube I4. 'I'his clearance is, illustrated as somewhat exaggerated and onl Fig. 2 it gradually increases from the left hand end of the drawing toward the right hand end.

The tubes I'4'a'nd I6 havef'uniforrn exterior diametersfrom'one end tothe other. The stockings which are conventionally employed at the outer ends ofthe inner'tubes I4 and I6 are left 01T so that these inner tubes present smooth and truly cylindrical exterior surfaces of uniform diameter from end to end. The outer tubes I8 and I9 present tapered interior surfaces, the arrangement beingsuch that they have minimum internal diametersl at the free or inner'ends of theseouter tubes. This taper of the outer tubes causes-the clearance to gradually increase between the outer tubes and their respective inner tubes from the inner ends of the outer tubes toward the outer ends of the inner tubes. Consequently, with this arrangement the closest fit between the outer tubes and their respective inner tubes will' always be located at the inner ends of the outer tubes or near handle 24. The greater clearance at other points between the outer tubes and the inner tubes forms va. looser t between the outer tubes and the inner tubes so that at other points which areremote from handle 24 there is virtually no friction between the outer tubes and the inner tubes.

By this arrangement it will be noted that regardless of the position of the' outer tubes the friction at all points will be 'substantially the same. When the outer tubes are fully retracted those portions of the outer tubes whichsfit most closely aboutthe inner tubes will be only those portions which are adjacent handle 24. Likewise, when the outer tubes are extended the only portions of the outer tubes which bear and closely fit upon the inner tubes will' be those portions whichare adjacent handle 24. In this way it is a possible to have a freely operating slide or bearing of the outer tubes wherein the friction on the inner tubes will be the same in all positions. By having the closet fitting surfaces orthe bearing surfaces located very close to handle 24 there is no tendency to cause the outer tubes to bind on their respective inner tubes by the weight of the players hand or any tendency on his part to move the outer tubes laterally with respect to the inner tubes. This arrangement enables the minimum clearance between the outer tubes to be as close as .005 inch without any danger of sticking or undue friction. In previous constructions which employ stockings on the outer ends of the inner tubes the clearance has seldom, if ever, been allowed to be less than .'015 inch.

In Fig. Bamodifiedform of construction having the same advantages above described is disclosed. In this construction the inner tubes are indicated at 25 and 26, inner tube 25 constituting the lower inner tube and inner tube 26 constituting the upper inner tube. These inner tubes are connected together by means of a bracket or brace 21 and may have the sleeves 28 and 29. In this construction, also, the inner tubes 25 and 26 have a uniform exterior, truly cylindrical surface from end to end. The outer tubes 30 and 3|, instead of presenting tapered interiorsurfaces' are formed with internal stockings at their innerends, indicated at 32 and 33. The handle 34 connects the inner ends of the outer tubes and is located adjacent the stockings. The stockings may be made to fit the inner tubes with about .005 inch clearance. The remaining portions of the outer tubes to the right of the stockings and extending to the return bend 35 have" increased interior diameters forming a greater clearance around the inner tubes and leaving only the stockings 32,` and 33 in close engagement therewith. In this type of construction, also, it will be noted that regardless of. theV position of the' outer'tubes the only portions of the outer tubes vwhich will engage the inner tubes and produce any friction are the stockings 32 and 33.y Consequently, regardless of the positions o f the outer vtubes or of the slide the: friction will alwaysbe the same. Likewise, as the stockings are located near handle 34 there is n o tendency for the outer tubes to bind on the inner tubes.

In Fig. 4 an alternative form of construction is disclosed. In this construction the instrument has inner tubes 36 and 31 which are connected together by a brace or bracket 38 and may or may not have the sleeves 3 9 and 4U. The outer tubes are indicated at 4I and 42 and are connected by the return vbend 43. They have their inner ends connected to each other by means of a handle or yhand grip 4 4. In this construction the inner'tubes 36 andl 31 present uniform external diameters from 'end to end so that they are truly cylindrical. The outer tubes are provided with a series of internal stockings, the thickest stockings being those located immediately above and below handle 44. These stockings are indicated at 45 and 46. rIfhe stockings 45 and 46 are so formed as to fit the inner tubes most closely. For example, the clearance between these stockings and the inner tubes may be only .005

inch. To therright o f these stockings there are additional stockings indicated atV 41 and 48. These stockings havea slightly greater clearance; for example: if stockings 45 and 46 t the inner tubes with .005 inch clearance, stockings 41 and 48 may be .007`inch clearance. Adjacent stockings 49 and 5U may have aV still greater clearance, for example:v .009 inch clearance. This series of stockings may be formed the entire length of the outer` tubes so that there is a progessively increasing clearance from stockings 45 and 46 to return bend 43. In this latterA type of construction it will be appreciated that the same advantages are obtainable. The closest f'lt islocated near the handle 4 4. The closest fit being` located at thispoint, the friction between the outer tubes and their inner tubes will be, substantially the same in all positions. There is little or no tendency of the cuter tubes to bind onine inner tubes and, consequently, they will slide freely. v Y

In all of the above types of construction It will be appreciated that an improved slide trombone is providedliaving` stationary inner tubes and movableoutertubes connected to eachother by a return bend. 'Ihe outer tubes are telescoped over the inner tubes and the closest t between the outer tubes and the inner tubes is always located near the inner ends of the outer tubes adjacent the handle.

Various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the arrangement and construction of parts Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A slide trombone having stationary inner tubes and movable outer tubes slidably telescoped thereover, a return bend connecting the outer ends of the outer tubes, the inner tubes presenting uniform external diameters, the telescopng lengths of the outer tubes being internally tapered with the smallest internal diameters located adjacent their inner ends.

2. A slide trombone having stationary inner tubes and movable outer tubes slidably telescoped thereover, the inner tubes presenting uniform external diameters, a return bend connecting the outer ends with the outer tubes, the inner ends of the outer tubes having stockings formed on their interiors designed to t closely around the inner tubes, and a series of adjacent stockings on the interiors of the outer tubes but having greater clearances around the inner tubes than the end most stockings.

REGINALD B. OLDS. 

